"We don't need it then," Chen Jun's father said through gritted teeth.
Chen Jun panicked, "Mom and Dad, what the hell happened?"
"Xiao Jun, today... Director Liu came to our house," his mother said, wiping away tears and with a helpless look on her face, "He... he wants his son to join the Hanmen Training Class."
"So... he wants me to drop out?" Chen Jun said incredulously.
"Yes!" his mother choked up and continued, "You know, Director Liu is your dad's direct boss. He manages the entire community's work. If your dad doesn't please him, I'm afraid... your dad might lose his job!"
Upon hearing this, Chen Jun immediately fell silent.
"Son, don't worry," Chen Jun's father said clenching his teeth, "Even if I lose my job, I will make sure you get into a top university. A friend at the Education Bureau told me the Hanmen Training Class is indeed good, this time out of one hundred students, eighty percent improved their scores. Seeing your grades improve so much made me really happy, and proud. Son, I'm getting old, and the future depends on you. I can't ruin your prospects."
"Dad..." After hearing this, Chen Jun was incredibly moved. He gently placed the thousand yuan he had in his hand on the table and then said, "I'll still quit the Hanmen Training Class. I can't let you lose your job because of me."
"No way," Chen Jun's father immediately shook his head and said, "I can't let you drop out of the Hanmen Training Class. You are our family's hope. In next year's college entrance exam, you must get into a top university. As long as you get into a top university, what does it matter if I lose my job? If not here, I can find work elsewhere. If this place won't keep me, another place will."
"Dad," Chen Jun said with a wry smile on his face, "You've worked within the system all your life, suddenly working for a private company... You won't be comfortable, and you won't adapt. Besides, you have good benefits and treatment here, it won't be as good anywhere else."
"No matter what, I have made up my mind about this," Chen Jun's father asserted with conviction.
Chen Jun's father was a worker, having taken over the position from Chen Jun's grandfather. After the enterprise reformed, he accidentally became a section chief and entered the office. He then worked within the system for most of his life. He was honest and dutiful.
Lacking a background and connections, he spent most of his life as a section chief, with promotions within the unit being none of his concern. Moreover, he was often the last in line for the unit's benefits. However, he never complained, working diligently and bearing all burdens.
Now, Director Liu, for the sake of his own son's education, actually took the initiative to come knocking.
Director Liu's son was also a fair student, with academic performance similar to Liu Jun's. Hovering around 450 to 460 points overall, even getting into a Tier-2 college would be quite difficult. Initially, Director Liu sneered at the Hanmen Training Class and never believed in these so-called extracurricular training institutions.
But seeing the significant improvement in Liu Jun's grades made him a believer instantly.
However, the Hanmen Training Class only accepts a hundred students. Especially after seeing Liu Jun's grades dramatically improve, he was eager, wishing he could stuff his son into the Hanmen Training Class right away. Unfortunately, after trying several connections and failing to make them work, he had no choice but to set his sights on Chen Jun.
"Dad, are you really not afraid of unemployment?" Chen Jun asked.
"I'm scared!" Chen Jun's father laughed and said, "But, I'm even more afraid that my son won't get into a top university."
"Dad, I will definitely get into a top university," Chen Jun's eyes brimmed with tears.
"Good son!" Chen Jun's father patted his shoulder and said earnestly, "I believe you can do it."
Under the light, the father and son had a heart-to-heart talk.
Xiao Han would never have imagined that the Hanmen Training Class he started would lead to so much trouble, even triggering a minor whirlwind. It made an office director use his power to pressure a section chief.
............
In an aging neighborhood in the XC District, numerous cars were parked at the entrance.
One after another, people headed inside. Some carried gifts, while others inquired around the neighborhood for information.
"Ma'am, do you know where Li Dapang's home is?" a middle-aged, well-dressed woman asked a grandmother cooling off at the gate, holding a gift box in her hand.
"Oh, you're also here for Big Fatty, aren't you?" The elderly woman smiled and then, pointing at the group ahead, said, "Just follow them. They're looking for Big Fatty too. You can't go wrong following them!"
Hearing this, the well-dressed woman quickly thanked her and hurried after the group with her gift box.
The onlookers at the entrance curiously watched these 'distinguished' visitors from the city center. Many luxury cars, even BMWs and Audis, were parked both inside and outside the neighborhood. These cars might not be very high-end in other places, but to the residents of this old XC District neighborhood, BMWs and Audis were luxurious.
"What's going on? Why are they all looking for Li Dapang?"
"Who knows? Maybe he's in some kind of trouble?"
"Impossible. Didn't you see how polite they are, each one carrying gifts? If you didn't know any better, you'd think Li Dapang had become an official!"
"Indeed!"
At the entrance of the neighborhood, many residents who were enjoying the cool air appeared very curious and puzzled. In their memory, only families of officials would have so many people bringing gifts and politely visiting. However, Li Dapang was just a kid from an ordinary family with modest circumstances.
The surrounding neighbors all seemed bewildered as one after another, people continued to visit.
At this moment, Li Dapang's home was already packed with people.
Li Dapang's mother was disabled and unable to entertain the guests. By a little after four in the afternoon, guests had been steadily arriving, and seeing so many well-dressed, wealthy-looking people bringing gifts and specifically asking for Li Dapang by name, Mother Li was somewhat taken aback. In a flurry, she immediately phoned Father Li.
Li Dapang's father was a carpenter, who was installing a ceiling at someone else's house when he got the call. He hurried home to take care of receiving the guests.
Li Guoan was an honest and dependable man, who had learned carpentry from an early age, practicing the trade for decades with expert skill. His mind was sharp, but he simply couldn't understand why so many people were flocking to his home to find Li Dapang.
"Please be patient, everyone. Dapang should be back any moment now," said Li Guoan, looking somewhat embarrassed. With so many people suddenly in his home, and carrying so many expensive gifts, he was at a loss as to what to do. He could only warmly entertain these guests.
"No problem, no problem, we can wait a little longer," said the people sitting on the couch one after another.
"I'm sorry, really sorry," said Li Guoan as he quickly asked, "May I know...what business you have with our Dapang?"
"That is..." one of the people on the sofa was about to speak, when at that moment, someone standing by the door said with a smile, "Let's wait for Teacher Li to come back and talk about it."
Unnoticed, Li Dapang's title had changed, directly from Li Dapang to Teacher Li. This added to Li Guoan's confusion and bewilderment. At the very least, the title of "Teacher" should belong to someone with knowledge, experience, or education. Li Dapang hadn't studied hard since he was a child, and his recent mock exam scores were merely 301 points.
Besides, Li Dapang was only nineteen years old; he was hardly eligible for the title of "Teacher."
Li Guoan became even more anxious.
Fortunately, at this time Li Dapang rode in on his newly purchased, cool-looking motorcycle.
An elderly lady relaxing at the neighborhood entrance laughed, "Dapang, you have guests at home, hurry and check."
"What?" Li Dapang was startled and asked, "Who is it?"
"Quite a few!" the elderly woman motioned with her hand.
Li Dapang quickly ditched his motorcycle and ran towards his home.
"Teacher Li is here," someone in the corridor shouted, causing a stir.
Whoosh...
All eyes were on Li Dapang. Li Dapang was a robust and hefty lad. In fact, many people had never seen him before and in their minds, someone referred to as Teacher Li should be a person with a scholarly appearance, gentle and refined.
But where was there even a hint of scholarly appearance or genteel refinement in the person before them?
"What are you all doing here?" Li Dapang was immediately dumbstruck. He had never seen such a scene before and was somewhat slow to react.
"Teacher Li, the fact is," started a lady of status from the sofa, "my son wants to join Hanmen Training Class, so we hope you can make an exception. You see..."
As she spoke, the lady hastily stuffed an expensive gift into Li Dapang's hands.
"Right, Teacher Li, we are here for the same reason," chirped in other people, and the whole corridor grew lively.
Li Dapang was utterly stunned.
As a crowd swarmed in, Li Guoan stepped forward to intervene. It seemed like the Li family's doorway could almost be broken down, as dozens upon dozens of people tried to squeeze into the Li household, eager to personally hand their gifts over to Li Dapang.
These were Chinese parents determined for their children to achieve high scores, humbling themselves and coming to the Li family, sparing no pains.
"Everybody stop!" shouted Li Dapang urgently.
Immediately, there was silence.
"Teacher Li, please consider..." the lady closest to Li Dapang begged with a desperate expression.
"Enough, everyone, enough," Li Dapang hurriedly said, "I'm just a worker, so please don't make it hard for me. Hanmen Training Class has its own rules and systems. This isn't something I can change."
"Then please just say a word to the person in charge for us," pleaded the group of parents.
They were unable to contact Hanmen's director; their only option was to seek Li Dapang's help. With the citywide joint examination results coming out, some influential people with status had obtained information from the Education Bureau, learning that over eighty percent of students from the Hanmen Training Class had improved their scores. This news spread like wildfire throughout LJ city.
Word of mouth grew and so did the urgency of protective parents who regretted not having enrolled their children at the first opportunity. Therefore, they sought any possible means, including using back doors and pulling strings, to get in.